I am a 25 year old graduate student living in Boston Massachusetts who believes strongly in the three words which comprise the title of this blog: peace, love, and libertarianism.
I do not intend to focus on any one topic within this blog, however I will most likely spend much of my time discussing the two passions of my life: music and politics.
In this first entry, it is perhaps most prudent for me to explain the lesser known concept of libertarianism, which will feature prominently within my political musings. Though a plethora of definitions exist, libertarianism is perhaps most broadly defined as a political ideology which puts a strong emphasis on individual liberty and free will. In accordance with these priorities, libertarians believe that governments should be minimal and administer only the most essential laws and services to its citizens.
These philosophies result in a political ideology that many would describe as "socially left" yet "economically right." For example, most libertarians believe the state has no business prohibiting individuals from consuming a drug such as marijuana or controlling what consenting adults do behind closed doors. We may have personal opinions on these matters, but they are of no concern to the state. Similarly, libertarians strongly believe in minimal taxation and allowing individuals to determine the use of their income. Moreover, they hold that someone like Sam Walton bears the right as a free individual to make billions of dollars building Wal-Marts across North America. It should be noted, however, that Libertarianism does not subscribe to individuals exercising their freedoms to blatantly hinder the freedoms of others. In this way, Bill Gates can corner the computer market, but an armed Microsoft militia cannot storm random Best Buys and force citizens to buy Windows Vista.
Like any political philosophy Libertarianism is an ideal which will breakdown in certain situations. For example, a nation full of heroin addicts is a poor excuse for a free state. Moreover, people will never fully agree on its meaning.
In this blog, I hope that I may identify with other individuals who often opt for the "swirl cone" when asked to pick between a left-wing or right-wing affiliation. Moreover, I hope that it will serve as an acceptable medium for the unacceptably long diatribes I have been posting to my Facebook wall.
I do not intend to focus on any one topic within this blog, however I will most likely spend much of my time discussing the two passions of my life: music and politics.
In this first entry, it is perhaps most prudent for me to explain the lesser known concept of libertarianism, which will feature prominently within my political musings. Though a plethora of definitions exist, libertarianism is perhaps most broadly defined as a political ideology which puts a strong emphasis on individual liberty and free will. In accordance with these priorities, libertarians believe that governments should be minimal and administer only the most essential laws and services to its citizens.
These philosophies result in a political ideology that many would describe as "socially left" yet "economically right." For example, most libertarians believe the state has no business prohibiting individuals from consuming a drug such as marijuana or controlling what consenting adults do behind closed doors. We may have personal opinions on these matters, but they are of no concern to the state. Similarly, libertarians strongly believe in minimal taxation and allowing individuals to determine the use of their income. Moreover, they hold that someone like Sam Walton bears the right as a free individual to make billions of dollars building Wal-Marts across North America. It should be noted, however, that Libertarianism does not subscribe to individuals exercising their freedoms to blatantly hinder the freedoms of others. In this way, Bill Gates can corner the computer market, but an armed Microsoft militia cannot storm random Best Buys and force citizens to buy Windows Vista.
Like any political philosophy Libertarianism is an ideal which will breakdown in certain situations. For example, a nation full of heroin addicts is a poor excuse for a free state. Moreover, people will never fully agree on its meaning.
In this blog, I hope that I may identify with other individuals who often opt for the "swirl cone" when asked to pick between a left-wing or right-wing affiliation. Moreover, I hope that it will serve as an acceptable medium for the unacceptably long diatribes I have been posting to my Facebook wall.
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